Anyone interested in CPM M4 besides me?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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I have wanted to test out CPM M4 or get feedback from someone else on CPM M4 for a while now. If I can ever get CPM to cut some for me in an affordable and appropriate size, I'm going to have a test mule ground out of it. Am I the only one who has a strong desire to try this steel out?

It seems to spec out somewhere near A2 in terms of toughness with what apears to be superior edge holding. We are all familiar with M2 and its success in the Benchmade AFCK project, so I am thinking with its increased toughness and edge holding we would have a real winner in this steel. I know heat treat seems to be tricky but, a good shop will handle that.

Have I missed something other then the inability to acquire raw stock in reasonable sizes (yielding a reasonable price)?

Thanks,
Sid
 
Sid,

Like yourself, I am curious to try out new types of blade steels. I was also curious about trying M4. I tried to acquire some CPM 15v but had no success because crucible only makes them in 1/2 inch thickness. Instead, I am currently trying to have a knife made in CPM 10V. It is suppose to hold an edge better than 420v with even more toughness.
 
There are a few makers working with CPM M4 (note cpm m4 is not the same as rex m4) in tests.I havent heard any reports yet.
Crucible makes all there steels in round bar
lots to grind but you can get it.
depending on what you get your looking at $16-$25 per LB shipped.
IF demand calls for it I will add CPM M4 next fall.
ED
 
Thanks!

Back during the summer, Crucible in Dallas had 4 x 14 inch stock that they could cut 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 inch thickness but, my schedule did not allow time to pick it up. As I remember they were talking about ~$10 a pound with a $100 minimum order. I'm not sure if this was an odd lot or not though. It seems this "odd" piece was left from some other job so, it was pretty much a one time deal.

From what I understand, CPM M4 is the only way to go for a knife blade, regular M4 will have large carbide structures making it a bear for the maker to work with and resulting in a knife blade that is not superior to M2. I think that is why Benchmade chose M2 (along with cost of raw stock) for their foray with "real" steel.

Sid
 
O.K, where can i go to read about all of the CPM types available?? I am interested in some CPM3 but only know about it becuase of the article in KNIVES ILLUSTRATED.

Any info will be helpfull.

Thanks.
 
Matt: Check out www.crucibleservice.com. It'll give you access to info on all their steels. By the way, any CPM alloy should always make a superior blade compared to the equivalent hot rolled grade, due to the smaller grain size/smaller carbide size and more uniform distribution of alloying additions. It's the manufacturing process that kicks up the toughness, and permits them to cram much more of "the good stuff" into the alloy. However, you'll probably have to be even more meticulous in the heat treatment and post processing than with the "usual" alloys. I understand these grades can be more tempramental, due to the exceptionally high alloy content. I'll let you know as soon as I can make a blade from the CPMM4 I bought over a year ago-I believe you can still buy this in 18" long, precision ground bars. Think I paid over $80 for a piece 3/16 x 3 x 18 !!
Also, I have Crucible looking into slabbing some CPM3V from a plate. Hoping to end up with approx .16 x 16-24x 1.25 or 1.50.
After sawing, they will need to Blanchard or precision grind to the exact thickness. I'm getting a quote on how many pieces I could have made up for about $1000. I'll know in 2 or 3 days. They're checking the availability of the proper plate, and how close they can hold the sawcut. Then, they'll quote me. I'll keep you posted.

Originally, I was enamored with CPM440V-in fact, I used this alloy back in 1987!! 2 years ago, after much positive experience with A2 and losing interest in the less tough stainless grades like ATS34 and 440C, I really got fired up about the CPMM4-it approaches A2 in toughness, and exceeds it in wear resistance. CPM3V LOOKED BETTER ON PAPER, BUT, UNTIL NOW, SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD NEVER BE POSSIBLE TO GET ANY IN KNIFE SIZES. Hopefully, Crucible will come thru for us. If anyone is interested in getting in on this order, email me at the address below (serious inquiries only, please)

Stay Sharp,

RJ Martin
rjmartin@javanet.com
 
I've been grinding on my first blades made from CPM 420V and find it to be the toughest steel I've yet tried to grind. It eats belts. Best results with Klingspor CS210 36 grit belts to start the bevels and then switch over to 50 grit zirkonia belts to finish the rough grind. CS 210 in 60 grits works well also, but they dull out in nothing flat.

We'll see what happens after I have em heat treated...
 
Good stuff eh. Grind it slow .. it saves belts..

------------------
Darrel Ralph / Bladesmith
Web www.infinet.com/~browzer
Take a look!!!!
 
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